Bringing Octopus Education to STEMfest at Mayborn Museum!
Last week, OctoNation’s nonprofit team made a splash at STEMfest in Waco, TX for the third year in a row! This popular, free community science event was held at the Mayborn Museum Complex and attracted hundreds of families looking to learn & have fun with their kids!
“STEMfest is a chance to expand education and increase curiosity for this quickly growing field,” said Andi Parr, an education specialist at ESC Region 12. “We’re defining STEM as solving, thinking, experiencing, and making.”
STEMfest was filled with hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations from many local partners. This year’s theme centered around water and its crucial role in our daily lives.
With free admission for the day, Mayborn Museum Complex welcomed over 2,000 attendees last year. This year was just as epic with well over a thousand attendees!
Carollo Engineers sponsored this year’s STEMfest, reinforcing the importance of water in STEM education. Their sponsorship helped make STEMfest a truly special event, emphasizing the importance of water in our daily lives.
OctoNation’s STEMfest Booth: Octopus Superhero Academy
OctoNation’s booth was a huge hit! “Octopus Superhero Academy™” had three exciting stations that educated attendees about the superpowers of octopus anatomy!
Station One: Octo-Vision Activity
At the Octo-Vision activity, children and adults put on special octo-glasses that mimicked the wide field of vision of an octopus. They learned about the unique rectangular pupils of octopuses, which allow these incredible creatures to see nearly 360 degrees around their heads. Can you imagine having two panoramic cameras on the sides of your head?! This panoramic vision helps octopuses hunt prey, avoid predators, and find the perfect spot to hide in an instant!
Kiddos and adults alike had a blast seeing the world through an octopus’s eyes!
Station Two: No Bones, All Muscle Activity
The No Bones, All Muscle activity was a hands-on experience where participants located the octopus’s beak inside a glove filled with squishy slime. They learned that an octopus can squeeze through any opening larger than its beak thanks to its flexible muscle-supported body.
After that, participants then guided a squishy octopus model through a small hole in a container, earning a “Stay Inkspired” OctoNation Sticker and the title of Cephalopod Scholar!
Station Three: Cephalopod Scholars: Our Ink-credible graduates!
At the final station, Cephalopod Scholars took photos with a custom STEMfest photo frame designed by our creative director, Chris Adams. Graduates of the Octopus Superhero Academy learned that octopuses embody resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving—qualities that make them the superheroes of the sea!
According to OctoNation founder Warren Carlyle, sparking curiosity in young minds is the key to fostering a lifelong love for our oceans. “If we ignite curiosity early, we can pave the way for a lifelong appreciation of our oceans through the fascinating world of octopuses!”
A Day of Inspiration and Fun at STEMfest!
OctoNation had an absolute blast at STEMfest, inspiring wonder of the ocean and educating families about the incredible world of octopuses. We’re excited to continue the Octopus Superhero Academy at more events in the future. Thank you to everyone who visited our booth and supported our programs!
Support OctoNation’s programs today and help us continue our mission of educating the world about octopuses and inspiring ocean wonder!
Join Us Next Year or Have us Come to You!
STEMfest was an incredible opportunity to connect with the community, build awareness and education for STEM, and inspire wonder in the next generation of scientists and ocean enthusiasts!
Warren Carlyle is an internationally recognized octopus expert and founder of OctoNation, the world’s largest octopus fan club and nonprofit organization dedicated to octopus education.
Dubbed the “OctoKing” by Sy Montgomery and featured as a co-author on National Geographic’s SecretsOfTheOctopus.com, Warren has spent over a decade making octopus science accessible and entertaining for all ages.
As the Octopus’ PR agent, Warren regularly collaborates with hundreds of underwater photographers, marine scientists, artists, and aquarists to create engaging, research-backed content that reaches millions monthly.
As Jacques Cousteau said, “People protect what they love.”OctoNation’s community of over 1 million members couldn’t agree more. 🐙Want to get involved? Email Warren at [email protected]
